Havre de Grace in Harford County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Nineteenth Century Travel
Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail
— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —
Photographed By Bill Pfingsten, April 3, 2013
1. Nineteenth Century Travel Marker
Travelers on the Post Road, the main route of north/south travel, passed through Havre de Grace and crossed the Susquehanna River on a ferry to Perryville. The ferry was chartered in 1695 and remained in use until the first railroad bridge was built in 1866. Because of the ferries' importance to commerce, the British burned them during their 1813 attack on Havre de Grace.
"(The British) took, plundered, and burnt the small vessels passing from one shore of the bay to the other, belonging to individuals, and loaded entirely with private property. This was their uniform practice."
-Jared Sparks,
Conflagration of Havre de Grace, 1817
[Captions:]
A Ferry Scene on the Susquehanna at Wright's Ferry near Havre de Grace, ca. 1811 by Pavel Petrovich Svinin. Image (c) The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Ferry launches were located just north and south of David Craig Park in Havre de Grace, and near Rodgers Tavern on the Perryville side of the river. When the first railroad bridge was built in 1866, it followed a route similar to what the ferries must have taken across the river.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed
this page online
Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 39° 33.36′ N, 76° 5.575′ W. Marker was in Havre de Grace, Maryland, in Harford County. Marker could be reached from Conesteo Street. Marker is on the grounds of the Susquehanna Museum at the Lock House. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Havre de Grace MD 21078, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. You Are Standing On A Pivot (Or Swing) Bridge (a few steps from this marker); How A Lock Works (within shouting distance of this marker); The Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal (within shouting distance of this marker); The Lafayette Trail (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Lock House (about 300 feet away); This Wye Oak (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named This Wye Oak (about 500 feet away); Under Attack (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Havre de Grace.
Photographed By Bill Pfingsten, April 3, 2013
2. River Ferry
Photographed By Bill Pfingsten, April 3, 2013
3. Marker with Susquehanna River in background
Photographed By Bill Pfingsten, April 3, 2013
4. Map of ferry crossing
Credits. This page was last revised on July 20, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 4, 2013, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 601 times since then and 12 times this year. Last updated on January 18, 2021, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 4, 2013, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.
